Reflections: Remembering and honoring Independence Day

Next to Christmas, I like the Fourth of July as my favorite holiday. The traditional music played that day- “Stars and Stripes Forever,” the “1812 Overture” with those cannons exploding at its conclusion, fire works and the sense of pride that I live in the United States make this a very special day.

This year marks the 240th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As a youngster my parents provided my sisters and I with “sparklers,” that my father would light with a match and we twirled them around as they sizzled down the metal stem we held.

Then he would set off a few fire crackers – causing us to cover our ears! But we knew the meaning of that day because he and our teachers taught us.

I note that in 1926, the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Cardington celebrated, not with a parade and fireworks but with church services and a patriotic program in the park with the school band playing appropriate music.

Today, locally, the Morrow County Fair Board sponsors an evening of fireworks and for the past three years, Cardington Yatuka Technologies has produced a spectacular fire works to conclude the Street Fair. There are also many controlled fire works displays in the area. We can watch fireworks programs on television and I love the Capitol Fourth and the Boston Pops celebrations of Independence Day.

It is a day of picnics, out door activities and fun with our friends – I hope we don’t forget the influence July 4, 1776 has on our lives today. Happy Fourth of July.

July of 1926

A daughter was born June 22 to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Renz at their home east of Cardington. She was named Maxine.

The high school band gave a concert in the park on July 4.

Several speakers spoke on subjects related to Independence Day.

A hissing viper snake was on display in a cage in the Kreis and Poorman window.

It was caught by Dub Caris in the Walhonding River.

A top pop song in 1926 was ”Bye Bye Blackbird.”

July of 1956

Robert Mathews and Robert Casto were inducted into the Armed Forces at Fort Hayes Columbus. John Conaway, Cardington High School sophomore, was selected as a member of the 300 piece All-Ohio Boys Band. He played French Horn

Patrolman D. M Dunaway, former Cardington resident and a member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, had been sent to the Warren area to particpate in the search for Alfred “Buck” Wilson, murderer of three Warren women. Wilson was shot down from a tree by a patrolman and died a few hours later.

Top pop song in July, 1956 was “Rock Around the Clock” with Bill Haley

July of 1976

The 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was observed in Cardington with the ringing of four bells in the village; the bell in the enclosure on the roof of the First United Methodist Church; the bell mounted next to St. Paul Lutheran Church, the former Methodist Protestant Church bell mounted on a foundation at the Cardington Park and a former fire alarm bell at the H. H. Denton home on Chesterville Ave.

Sadly, the bells were muffled by the sound of the village fire siren which sounded simultaneously.

A top pop song in July, 1976 was “Got to Get You into My Life,” by the Beatles